About this collection

This collection of oral histories examines what it was like living during the Great Depression all the way through the end of World War II. The seventeen participants in these videos were asked a series of questions and their responses were recorded and edited to make this collection what it is today. The participants in these videos come from all different backgrounds and they each have unique stories to tell. Many of the interviewees were servicemen and servicewomen during World War II, while others were too young to serve or were waiting back home for their loved ones to return home from war.

This collection has been digitized from analog tapes and has been uploaded to this site so the public can access these files and enjoy this content that the Ohio Historical Society has cultivated and maintained over the years.

The interviews were conducted between January and February of 2000 at the Ohio Historical Society. There are 54 higher-quality videos available to watch for users with broadband connections, as well as 54 lower-quality videos to watch for users with slower Internet connections. Additionally there are transcripts to go along with the video collection so researchers can study the contents of the collection more closely.

The interview questions included:

How did the Depression affect your life?

Were the 1940's a time of sacrifice?

Were the 1940's a special time?

Do you think it's important to teach children about the 1940's?

Did you experience discrimination?

What do you remember about television?

How did you spend your leisure time?

How aware and concerned were you about the events that led to the war?